Crew Member Reveals Depression Following Wave of Online Abuse Following Journey

A pioneering space traveler has opened up regarding her struggle with mental health after enduring a massive wave of online abuse in the aftermath of a landmark journey to the edge of space.

Amanda Nguyen – recognized as a scientist and civil rights advocate – was part of the brief journey to space in the spring, which also featured high-profile passengers.

The high-profile flight was widely scrutinized by some, who challenged its value and ecological impact.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the astronaut, who became the pioneer for her community, stated the vicious response overshadowed her achievement under an landslide of gendered hatred.

“I said the emotional pain might endure for years,” she recounted in a online statement, describing a phone call from a fellow crew member in the period after the flight.

She described the subsequent media coverage and social media frenzy as an unprecedented psychological assault.

“For a full week, I was bedridden and couldn't leave my Texas location,” she revealed. “Weeks after, I was forced to terminate a call, my voice choked by tears.”

Overshadowed by Sexism

Ms. Nguyen, who has conducted studies in gynecological science and conducted tests during the flight, said all her lifelong efforts – including her lab work and extensive preparation to the personal milestone of her heritage – was overshadowed under the deluge of gendered attacks.

She is widely recognized for her groundbreaking advocacy championing the cause of sexual assault survivors.

Her own goal of reaching space was paused after an attack during her university years, leading to a years-long quest for justice.

A Path to Recovery

Now, eight months after fulfilling her dream, she reports that the “fog of grief has started to lift”, and she expressed gratitude the well-wishers whose kindness helped save her. “You were my salvation,” she said.

She concluded that despite the negativity, considerable good had emerged from the flight, such as elevated attention for her women's health research and platforms for her activism.

Flight Details

The computer-piloted spacecraft lifted off from Texas in April, carrying the historic roster on a brief suborbital flight that exceeded the internationally recognized boundary of space.

The team of pioneers also featured accomplished professionals from various fields.

The venture behind the flight is a private space firm founded by a prominent billionaire entrepreneur.